Dental appliance.



`]EA'.IFl\T];`.D MAY 9, 1905. F. DAVIS.

DENTAL APPLIANCE.

APPLIOATION ULEB Nov.za,19o4\ wvemtoz eemaez 2a W43/ rvrrnn STATES'Patented may e, 190e.

FREEMAN DAVIS, OF MOULTON, lOiVA.

DENTAL IFiiDLIANCE.V

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters latent No. 789,591, dated May 9,1905.

Application filed November 28,1904. Serial No. 234,621.

To (t/Z when@ if; 'rn/ay con/ecrit;

Be it known that I, FREEMAN Davis, a citizen of the United States,residing at Moulton, in the county of Appanoose and State of Iowa, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Dental Appliances; and Ido declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description ofthe invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which itappertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in dental appliances, and moreparticularly to a device for separating teeth and a matrix for use inconnection with the separator.

The object of my invention is to provide a simple, durable, convenient,and eflicient appliance of this character which will greatly facilitatethe operation of lilling approximal cavities in anterior teeth.

With the above and other objects in view the invention consists ofcertain novel features of construction, combination, and arrangement ofparts, as will be hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view showing theapplication of my improved separator and matrix. Fig. 2 1s a frontelevation of the appliance. Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the same.Figs. 4

and 5 are detail sectional views taken on the lines 4 4 and 5 5 in Figs.2 and 3, and Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the appliance with thematrix removed to permit the former to be used simply as atooth-separator.

Referring to the drawings by numeral, 1 denotes my improved dentalappliance,which, as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, is applied to theanterior teeth of a human jaw. The appliance comprises a separator 9.and a matrix 2"', which is removably and adjustably mounted upon theseparator. The latter consists of two pivotally-connected members 3 and4, which are substantially U -shaped in form, and each of which isformed adjacent to its center witha tapered or wedge-shaped jaw'. Thesejaws 5 are adapted to enter or to be forced between two adjacent teethin order to temporarily separate the same to facilitate the filling ofcavities therein. The member 4 is formed with arms 6 and 7, whichproject substantially at right angles to the body portion of the member4 and which are formed with slots 8 to receive the reduced ends 9 of themember 3. Said reduced ends 9 are pivoted in'the slots 8 by means ofpins 10, as clearly shown in the drawings, so that the two members 3 and4, and hence their jaws 5, may be moved toward and from each other. Inthe extreme outer end of the arm 7 of the member 4, which arm is ofgreater length than the other arm, 6, is formed a screwthreadedopening'll, in which is mounted an adjusting and set screw 12. The innerend of said screw is adapted to impinge against the member 3 andv forcethe two members toward each other to cause their jaws 5 to enter betweentwo adjacent teeth to force the latter apart and also to clamp theseparator upon said teeth. Owing to the shape of the members andthedisposition of the adjusting means or set-screw 12, it will be seen thatthe device will not in any way interfere with the operation of filling'an approximal cavity in one of the teeth, and it will be noted that bysimply loosening or tightening the set-screw 12 the separator may bequickly and easily applied or removed and that the teeth may beseparated to any desired extent.

My improved matrix 2 comprises a bar 15, which is adjustably mounted in,recessed portions 16 of the member 4. This mounting is preferablyeffected by forming said bar with slots 17 and passing set-screws 18through said slots and into threaded sockets formed in said member 4, sothat when said set-screws 18 are loosened the said bar may be adjustedin the recessed portion 16 of said member, as clearly shown in Fig. 5 ofthe drawings. At each end of the bar 15 is formed a reduced head orbottom 19, which projects slightly beyond the body portion of the member4 and is adjustably engaged with the ends of a metallic ribbon or strip20. This adjustable connection is, as shown, effected by forming saidribbon or strip adjacent to its ends with longitudinally disposed slots21, through which said heads or buttons 19 project, as seen in Fig. 3 ofthe drawings. This metallic ribbon or strip is provided for the purposeof forming an artificial Hoor in an approximal cavity, the floor in thetooth having decayed away, and it is adjustably supported in the desiredposition upon the tooth or teeth by means of one or more set-screws 22.As shown in the drawings, I preferably provide two of said screws andpass them through threaded openings formed in the bar l5, so that theirinner ends bear against the under side of the ribbon or strip 2O toforce the same against the tooth or teeth. It' desired, this metallicribbon or strip instead of being disposed altogether beneath or upon theinner faces of the teeth, as shown in Fig. l of the drawings, may bepassed between two of the teeth, so that one portion ot' it lies aboveor upon the upper or outeri'aee of one of the teeth and its remainingportion extends beneath or upon the inner face of the other of the twoseparated teeth, as will be readilyT understood.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with theaccompanyingdrawings, the construction and operation ot' the inventionwill be readily understood without requiring a more extendedexplanation.

Various Changes in the Jform, proportion, and the minor details ot'construction maybe resorted to without departing Jfrom the prineiple orsaeriicing any of the advantages of this invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. A tooth-separator comprising a pair of pivotally-connected members,means for foreing them toward and from each other, anda matrix carriedby one of said members.

2. A tooth-separator comprising a pair of pivotally-connected members,means for Jforcing them toward and from each other', and an adjustablematrix carried by one of said members.

3. The combination with atooth-separator, comprising pivotally-connectedmembers and means for adjusting said members, of a matrix comprising abar mounted upon one of said members, a flexible strip, and means foradjusting said strip, substantially as described and for the purpose setforth.

4f. The combination with a tootheseparator, comprisingpivotally-connected members and means for adjusting said members, of amatrix comprising a bar mounted upon one of said members, a metallicribbon or strip adjustably engaged with said bar, and set-screws foradjusting said ribbon or strip.

1n testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

FREEMAN DAVIS.

Vitness es:

L. C. Lunies, N. W. BURGHER.

